EV range anxiety overcome | Advice - Car News Jan 2019

In a major breakthrough for the future of UK motoring, a new study has found that electric vehicles are within a fraction of meeting the range expectations of more than a third of drivers.

In a survey by independent consumer advice website DrivingElectric.com, 37% of motorists said they would consider buying an electric vehicle (EV) if a 300 mile range was possible.

With that figure in mind, there are already a number of pure electric cars who are within touching distance of delivering that range on a single charge, for example the Hyundai Kona Electric which can cover 292 miles. As improvements continue to be made to the technology and the 300 mile mark is achieved, the range anxiety often cited as the main reason for not considering an electric vehicle could soon be a thing of the past.

Almost one-tenth of respondents already have EVs which offer a range well within their expectations, with demands for a range of up to 150 miles met by cars such as the Volkswagen e-Golf.

A further 28% of drivers demanded up to 400 miles on a single charge, a figure widely expected to be reached by new high-end models already on the way from manufacturers.

Vicky Parrott, Associate Editor of DrivingElectric.com, said: “With such focus on range anxiety, many have missed the technological improvements we’re seeing. We were surprised to find many drivers’ expectations were so close to what is already available to them. However, the matching of expectation and reality is fantastic news for those drivers who have been waiting for the moment these cars meet their needs on range.”